Whatever happened to the Cavaliers' Daniel Gibson? Hey, Mary!

View full sizeDaniel Gibson has become a largely unseen face in what could be his final season with the Cavaliers.AP file

Hey, Mary: I noticed Daniel Gibson missed another game. I remember Gibson going off in a playoff game against the Pistons in his rookie or second season, but since then it has been injuries, lack of improvement and personal reasons. How about a candid assessment of Gibson's career, with no sugar coating please. -- Tim Corbett, Ladera Ranch, Calif.

Hey, Mary: What's up with Daniel Gibson? -- Eric Bauer, Syracuse

Hey, Tim and Eric: Gibson was given permission recently to attend to a personal issue. It had to be an incredibly serious situation in order for him to even ask. He certainly has not had the career many envisioned after Game 6 against the Pistons his rookie season, largely because of a series of injuries. That being said, he has been a true professional throughout, always working hard in rehabilitation and trying to avoid -- unsuccessfully -- additional injuries. He has been a good teammate, a good leader in the locker room and a good spokesman for the team. I'm afraid that does color my opinion, although I am willing to admit his contributions on the court have been negligible the past few seasons.

Hey, Mary: If the Cavs end up signing Greg Oden, I know they need to open a spot on the roster. I had been assuming that they would waive Kevin Jones, but recently I have been hearing talk about the team buying out Omri Casspi's contract. How do you think they would do it? -- Chris Stevens, Concord

Hey, Chris: Oden's agent has told reporters that his client won't sign until the summer, and the Cavs could have multiple openings, since they have several players with expiring contracts, including Casspi, Daniel Gibson and Luke Walton. Mo Speights could opt out as well. Should they try to sign Oden before that, waiving Jones would seem to be the most likely option.

Hey, Mary: Ever since coming back from breaking his left index finger way back in November, Kyrie Irving has worn a brace on the finger. Isn't this a very long time to still be wearing it? -- Zach Johnson, Cleveland

Hey, Zach: It's possible the finger isn't completely healed yet and that the brace provides protection. He wouldn't be playing if there was a risk of injuring it further. But I think perhaps Irving has gotten used to it and likes the results.

Hey, Mary: Being that he's a point guard, was Damian Lillard ever a consideration by the Cavs? Would they have put him at shooting guard or small forward? -- Eric Bauer, Syracuse

Hey, Eric: Although he certainly is the leading candidate for Rookie of the Year, I don't think he was under serious consideration by the Cavs. He's 6-2, so he's not really a shooting guard or small forward.

Hey, Mary: Assuming a small forward in this year's draft, the Cavs are set up to be two-deep at every position, with the right re-signings. So let's assume they retain Livingston, Speights and either C.J. or Ellington. We still have three more picks in the draft. I've already assumed we'll be trading the two second-rounders in an attempt to move up, but it seems as if with all the picks we are set up to package multiple first rounders with a player to get a big-name player through a trade -- for example, Varejao and picks for Kevin Love or somebody like that. It seems inevitable because they don't have many holes anymore. -- Anthony, Cleveland

Hey, Mary: What do you think of the Cavs making a run for Kevin Love this off-season? It's no secret that Love has been unhappy with Minnesota ownership and seeing Uncle Drew and Uncle Wes play together would be awesome. We could trade them our first-round picks over the next three years plus Miami's two picks. We would have two bona fide stars while keeping our role players intact (Waiters, Thompson, Varejao, Gee, Speights). -- Damon Jones, Cleveland

Hey, Anthony and Damon: I would not be surprised to see Minnesota try to trade Love, but I think the Wolves are past the rebuilding stage, which is what they'd be in if they traded Love for draft picks. I think they'd want picks and talented young players, the sorts of players -- Kyrie Irving or Tristan Thompson -- who are untouchable. I'm not sure what Varejao's trade value is after three serious injuries the past three seasons, although Love has had his own share of weird injuries. Five first-round picks for Love, which Damon is suggesting, is way too many. Keep in mind that a team can't trade away its first-round pick in consecutive years -- it's called the Stepien Rule.

Here's the important thing to keep in mind. The Cavs will do whatever it takes to improve. That's one reason why they stockpile assets and try to maintain salary-cap flexibility. It allows them to try to put together the kind of deals you're proposing -- if not the specific deals. Remember, it takes two teams (or more) to make a deal.

Hey, Mary: If the Greg Oden signing falls through, Anderson Varejao's health remains a question mark and the best available player on the board is Cody Zeller (assuming Ben McLemore, Shabazz Muhammad and Nerlens Noel have already been picked), do you think the Cavs will draft him? -- Charlie Flores, Strongsville

Hey, Charlie: I have no idea at this time, and I can assure you the Cavs don't either.

Hey, Mary: It seems to be a foregone conclusion that the Cavs will be wooing LeBron at the end of 2014 (if he opts out). How will that affect our salary cap next summer if we go after a big-name (say) center? -- Scott M., Greensboro, N.C.

Hey, Scott: I know it's a popular theory, but I don't think the Cavs would say it's a foregone conclusion they're waiting on LeBron James in 2014. I think they're going to try and make a significant move to improve this summer, in addition to adding a couple more draft picks. It's hard to say exactly what that will do to the salary cap. But the Cavs are in terrific shape in that every contract on their books for the 2014-15 season is a team option.

Hey, Mary: If the Sacramento Kings do not make the playoffs, do the Cavaliers lose that draft pick owed to them? Since the Lakers' draft pick is only to be used if swapped with the Heat's draft pick, then how many picks do the Cavs actually have? -- Erik Johnson, Lexington

Hey, Erik: The Cavs are owed a protected first-round pick from Sacramento until 2017. If they have not received a first-round pick from the Kings by then, they will receive a second-round pick in 2017 (protected Nos. 56-60 because it is promised in another deal.)

So in 2013, the Cavs have their own first-round pick, Sacramento's (top-13 protected), and Miami's (top-10 protected). They also have the right to swap the Lakers' pick with the most favorable of those three picks -- provided the Lakers make the playoffs. They also have their own second-round pick and Orlando's second-round pick.

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